Stanley Cup riot ‘heroes’ commended

Guelph Mercury

VANCOUVER — A man who removed a burning rag from a gas tank and a woman who single-handedly fended off an angry mob from looting a store are among a group of civilians being commended for heroism during the Stanley Cup riot.

Vancouver’s Police Board honoured 18 civilians and eight medical professionals for their bravery during the violent and destructive melee that broke out June 15, 2011, after the Vancouver Canucks lost the hockey final.

The Vancouver Police Department has also awarded two police officers the chief constable’s commendation for their devotion to duty during the riot.

Const. Mike Laurin was at home when he heard violence had broken out, but rushed to the scene only to be slammed in the head with a brick while helping other officers stop a crowd from smashing its way into a sports store.

Civilian Chris Ivany, who also received a commendation, was assaulted while stopping rioters from using wood to smash a store window.

Ivany says he felt compelled to step in to do what was right, but he’s critical of the police effort that night arguing it should have never come down to regular, unarmed people putting their own lives at risk.